CAD files

[Lutfi]

My firm has CAD files that another engineering firm is interested in buying for us as part of their effort to adopt them as the new EOR for the same project. What is a fair value to selling these files?

All transaction is legal and client fully understands the situation. Our contract with the owner has been mutually terminated. However, CAD file ownership remained ours.

Thanks


Regards,
Lutfi

 

[Ron]

Lutfi...where have you been?

Good for you to maintain file ownership!

The value of the files is, obviously, whatever you want them to be. Being reasonable, that would be the cost of production plus overhead and profit. Another approach would be to consider what outside reproduction of the same files would cost. Get an estimate from a local CAD service, then add your O&P. Have you already been paid by your client to produce the drawings? If so, then you might consider a lump sum "nuisance fee" of say, $2500, with releases of liability signed.

This is all assuming you will have the recipient sign a release from all liability that might result from the use of the plans.

 

[Lutfi]

Hey Ron, happy New Year and it is good to be back.

I agree with your input. We try to maintain ownership of CAD files. However, we are not successful all the time. We have agencies that demand them. The bottom line is that I want to be fair to myself and the new firm. To be honest, we did not make money on this particular project. Having said that, one of the approaches is consider recouping our loss. Another approach is exactly what you said, if we did not sell them plans, someone has to re-generate them and that is time consuming with associated cost.

We certainly will request a release to signed by all parties. The new engineer of record must follow steps established by the Florida State Board of Engineers for adopting another engineers work.

I hope to be stop by more often.


Regards,
Lutfi